MINISTRY OF TOURISM

CABINET SECTRETARYS OFFICE

Press Release 19TH FEB 2016

Cabinet Secretary appoints Ms. Jacinta Nzioka Mbithi as the
Ag. Managing Director, Kenya Tourism Board
Nairobi, 18th February, 2016. The Cabinet Secretary for Tourism,
Hon. Najib Balala has today appointed Ms. Jacinta Nzioka Mbithi as
the Acting Managing Director, Kenya Tourism Board (KTB). The outgoing Managing Director, Mr. Muriithi Ndegwa has been at the helm
of KTB for slightly over 6 (six) years and has served two full terms.
While making the appointment, the Cabinet Secretary assured the
tourism sector players of the commitment of his ministry to support
all the institutions that are part of the implementation processes for
a successful recovery of the sector. We will fast track all the
administrative and policy issues that we have at hand to enable us
strengthen the performance of all the institutions that are under our
ministry, said Hon. Balala.
Balala thanked Ndegwa for the diligent service he has offered the
Government during his two term period in office.
He said Mrs Nzioka-Mbithi will remain in the acting position until a
competitive recruitment exercise is completed by the Board.
As part of the strategic policy direction of the Ministry, the Cabinet
Secretary has announced that all the CEOs of the agencies within
the ministry who have served their two terms to prepare for smooth
hand-overs to a senior manager who will manage the entities as the
Boards prepare to recruit competitively.

The Cabinet Secretary emphasised that a true transformation of the

tourism sector can only be achieved through change and not
business as usual.
He noted that the ministry will be the guiding organ that gives
financial, moral and technical support to allow its agencies carry out
their mandates effectively and efficiently adding that all the boards
of the agencies are now in place and the remaining Chairmen will be
appointed soon.
The Cabinet Secretary said the Ministry will provide an opportunity
for the boards to carry out a transparent process that will see the
recruitment of new CEOs in a free and fair competitive process.
He encouraged qualified Kenyans who believe they are innovative
marketers to apply for the position of MD, Kenya Tourism Board
alongside other government agencies in his ministry that have fallen
or will be falling vacant soon.
Hon. Balala was re-appointed by the President as the Minister for
Tourism late last year. He has since initiated a number of programs
that are aimed at supporting the sector to full recovery. Some of
these include the government funded Charter Incentive Programme,
the reduction of park fees and waiver of Visa fees for children aged
below 16.
Ends.
For
more
details
please
contact
Ms.
Bevin
Bhoke,
Communications/Ministry of Tourism on bevin.bhoke@gmail.com